™ or ®

Which to use: ™ or ® ?

Your business can use the ™ symbol whenever it wishes to claim a trademark. You do not need to file any paperwork to receive permission to use the ™ symbol. Use of the ™ symbol can put your competition on notice that your business considers a mark to be your trademark.

Yet, the ® symbol may only be used after the US Government grants a Federal registration certificate. The ® symbol may not be used while the Federal application is pending. Additionally, the ® symbol may only be used in connection with the goods and services listed on the registration certificate.

Three Placement Techniques

Placement of the ™ or ® symbol right adjacent to the trademark, every time it is used.
Placement of ™ or ® or *(asterisk) or †(dagger) or ‡(double dagger) symbol right near the first use of the trademark. Then provide a footnote that describes the trademark.

Setting of all trademark words with bold, italic, UPPERCASE, or a different font, so they are clearly different from surround text. Then provide a footnote that describes the trademark.

The goal is for competitors to see the symbol that marks your (correct) trademark claim.

If you are interested in doing a formal Registered mark, please contact us for pricing. Prices may vary and is dependant on the class(es) you place your word mark and/or graphic mark in/as. *This is a lenghty process and may take up to 3 or 4 months or longer to be approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.